I have a Mom who detested Halloween. It's true.
As a little gal this meant a lot of made-up costumes, with things from around the house, the night before we needed to show up to school in something more than our school clothes.
The following childhood accounts of Halloween are true:
When I was in the 2nd grade my Mom put a little kid's apron on me along with a chef's hat. She then put about five coats of mascara on my little girl lashes and a sign around my neck that said "hi, i'm tammy fay baker."
And that was my costume.
3rd grade had me as a HOBO...Dad's worn out work shirt, hole-y jeans, dirty shoes, messy hair, and an eyeliner drawn moustache.....AND freckles--because that is HOBO to a TEE.
4th grade is my favorite. I wore my older brothers poncho, a sombrero (we bought in Tiajauna, Mexico), and an eyeliner drawn curly-moustache....I was a Mexican. Thanks Mom.
5th grade. I was actually NOTHING. We could not think of anything the night before that I approved of and being a "cowboy" like my Mom suggested was OUT OF THE QUESTION. She suggested I wear my little brothers cowboy hat and pick a piece of wheat on the way to school to put in my mouth. She also offered some eyeliner drawn freckles. It was a SUCKY suggestion Mom. I love you. But, No.
6th grade. Punk Rocker. Basically I wore oversized clothes and ratted my hair up & I got to wear blush from my Mom's Avon blush-stick AND bright red lipstick. (Just to let you know I was also given the option of being a pirate--my mom suggested the use of a bandana, a homemade eye patch, and a fake cardboard sword covered in tin-foil).
Unfortunately we don't have any documentation because I think my Mom subconsciously knew her suggestions weren't good ATALL, so why take pictures?
***sidenote***Kris and I are watching punk'd right now and this show gives me ANXIETY up the yin-yang. I mean it's funny at the end when they find out, but while the joke is going on I want to throw-up cause I feel so awkward for them.
Back to Halloween....
I LOVE Halloween. I love it SO much that I shop the end of holiday sales just to get my kids their costumes for next year. I can PROMISE you that Sen will never be sent to school dressed as homemade Hobo.
I LOVE YOU JOYCE--you just weren't good at Halloween is all....
I present to you Halloween costumes 2011--Sen & Dutch.
Tweedle Dee (I like to call her Tweedle Deezers)
Cheeky Monkey (aka-melt my heart monkey). Ain't no homemade pirate here.
Store-bought costumes are THE BEST!!! Buying them on clearance a whole year before???
EVEN BETTER!!!
Even though my Mom wasn't a fan of Halloween costuming she always ordered pizza for our Halloween dinner, and it was really great cause we ALWAYS knew we were eating store-bought pizza that night...and that's what I like to remember (even though I also remember all of the costume fails). She always made oven-roasted, salted pumpkin seeds too. I always wanted to like them, but I never really did.
You are the best Joyceeeee!
Happy Halloween from the Powells of Otis.
BOO!
I love that you know all your costumes through Elementary! I love IT!! I have no idea what I was in elementary! I love that Joyceeee too! She is a great mama! I sure miss her!
Liam was a Monkey 2 years ago and he was the cutest monkey. So is that Dutcharoo! Sen's costume is awesome!!! Wasn't she a gnome like Liam last year? So fun!
Miss the Otis Powells!!
Posted by: Stephanie | October 19, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Love it, love it! We always had homemade costumes too, but it never occured to me that maybe it was because my mom may have hated halloween, or maybe it was just because she had 7 kids to dress up...Who knows, but your kids are adorable, what funny memories!
Posted by: Andrea | October 19, 2011 at 04:07 PM
My favorite thing abot Joyce is all of the ways she was able to incorporate eye liner into your costumes. What a creative woman she is. I am so sad there are no pictures of you in your costumes. Oh, one more something... my MOM dressed up as a Mexican one year, sombraro, poncho and fake mustache (not made of eye liner unfortunately).I LOVE Halloween and am so missing out Halloween party!
Posted by: Britt | October 19, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Those costumes for your kiddos are GREAT! Sen's seems to fit her personality super well. Way to score by hitting the sales. Good luck when they want to choose their own costume.
Our homemade costumes weren't much different, though thought out longer. Not sure that mom liked Halloween but she knew we did. Now she makes costumes for the grandchildren which are way better than the ones we put together. Guess we should have asked her to sew our costumes.
Posted by: JaNae | October 19, 2011 at 09:13 PM
you always seemed hoboish to me, but you were in your late 20's, not a 3rd grader. ratty jeans, unkempt hair and dried food-leavings on your weathered face. happy halloween? in truth, that mustache i loaned you really made you presentable. too bad it wasn't a beard, woulda hid the whole hobo face.. you dont' have the heart to be a mexican, not even for halloween. you'd never understand the plight of the migrant. you're too blonde and conservative.
but senh is SOOOO cute. she is darling. i can't believe she's part of your brood. make sure you wash her face before she welcomes the day. hard to do as the pages from your book leave dried oatmeal below your mouth (or maybe it's just oral-herpes?). but take care of kris's progeny.
are you kinda glad we're not friends anymore?
Posted by: last train we robbed we were naked...... | October 22, 2011 at 10:26 PM
I don't mean to disregard the rest of you, but I can't get enough of that sweet baby bear! Ty/Kris, how can you get anything done with all that sweetness, with smiles from gum to ear? How I love that lil' Dutcher! -UncoBwice
Posted by: Bryce | October 24, 2011 at 07:27 PM
This post made me laugh out loud! Your mom is my favorite! I miss seeing her everyday! In other news, your kids are so stinking cute I can't stand it!
Posted by: Aimee Smith | October 27, 2011 at 11:46 AM